System and method for collecting soil samples

Abstract

A system and method for collecting soil samples is provided that permits a user to develop or generate one or more paths in an agricultural field to collect soil samples with each soil core collection point along the path being identified. The agricultural field can be divided into management zones having similar productivity and each management zone can have a path with the identified collection points to collect samples for that management zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer implemented method for determining sample points in an agricultural field, the method comprising:
 identifying one or more areas in an agricultural field, each identified area of the agricultural field having similar productivity; 
 determining a path through each identified area of the one or more areas of the agricultural field; 
 calculating a predetermined number of sample points to be taken on each determined path; 
 determining a location on a corresponding determined path for each calculated sample point for the corresponding determined path; and 
 displaying on a display each identified area of the one or more areas of the agricultural field with the corresponding determined paths and the corresponding locations of the sample points for the corresponding determined paths. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying one or more areas in an agricultural field includes determining whether an identified area has a predetermined size. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein determining whether an identified area has a predetermined size includes determining whether a size of the identified area is greater than a predetermined minimum size. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the predetermined minimum size is 1 acre. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3  wherein identifying one or more areas in an agricultural field includes combining identified areas that are less than the predetermined minimum size. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3  wherein identifying one or more areas in an agricultural field includes disregarding identified areas that are less than the predetermined minimum size. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2  wherein the predetermined size for an identified area is based on a type of crop associated with the identified area. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a path through each identified area includes determining the path through the identified area based on at least one of a total size of the identified area, a length of the identified area, a width of the identified area, a topography of the identified area, machine traffic lanes in the identified area, crop row direction in the identified area, prevailing wind direction for the identified area or water management structures in the identified area. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a path through each identified area includes centering the path through the identified area. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a path through each identified area includes determining a plurality of paths through the identified area. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein the determined path includes a plurality of passes through the identified area. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein calculating a predetermined number of sample points includes calculating the predetermined number of sample points based on a length of the determined path and a type of productivity for the identified area. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a location on a corresponding determined path for each calculated sample point includes evenly spacing the calculated sample points on the corresponding determined path. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  further comprising enabling a user to adjust at least one of the one or more identified areas, the corresponding determined paths in the one or more identified areas or the corresponding locations of the sample points on the determined paths. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining similar productivity for each identified area base on a soil type of the identified area and a crop yield history for the identified area. 
     
     
       16. A system comprising:
 a computer associated with a piece of equipment, the piece of equipment being located in an agricultural field; 
 a global positioning system device associated with the piece of equipment; the global positioning system device being configured to determine the location of the piece of equipment in the agricultural field; 
 a soil sampling management system comprising:
 a first computer algorithm executable by a microprocessor, the first computer algorithm operates to permit a user to create a map of the agricultural field, the map of the agricultural field including information on at least one management zone in the agricultural field, at least one path through the at least one management zone and a plurality of sample points on the at least one path; and 
 a second computer algorithm executable by a microprocessor of the computer, the second computer algorithm operates to receive location information on the piece of equipment from the global positioning system device in response to a collection of a sample and to generate an updated sample point on the map corresponding to the location information from the global positioning system device; and 
 
 a user interface to display the map and the updated sample points. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16  wherein the first computer algorithm operates to permit a user to adjust the position of at least one of the at least one management zone, the at least one path or the plurality of sample points on the map using the user interface. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16  wherein the at least one management zone comprises a plurality of management zones, each management zone of the plurality of management zones having a similar productivity. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one path comprises a plurality of paths, each path of the plurality of paths corresponds to a management zone of the plurality of management zones. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19  wherein each path of the plurality of paths has a plurality of sample points, the plurality of sample points being evenly spaced on a corresponding path of the plurality of paths.